You’ve done the hard part: made the decision to file for divorce. But what next? There are various ways you can file for divorce, also known as a “dissolution of marriage. Below we outline several ways to approach a divorce. How you proceed will be specific to you and your spouse’s situation.
Several Approaches to Filing Your Divorce
Depending on your situation you will file one of these forms of divorce:
UNCONTESTED DISSOLUTION – Both you and your spouse agree on all issues of property, debts, custody, and support. You are both enter into an agreement to all issues.
CONTESTED DISSOLUTION – Either you or your spouse, or both of you do not agree to issues regarding property, debts, custody, and support. You will be required to go before a judge so that he or she can make judgments regarding these issues as well as ensure all documents of agreement are appropriately prepared and signed off on.
SUMMARY DISSOLUTION – You and your spouse have been married for less than 5 years, have no children, no assets, no debts, and both parties are in agreement about signing the divorce petition.
PUBLICATION OF SUMMONS – When the filing party does not know the whereabouts for the other spouse, and has no way to contact them, it is necessary for the spouse to publish a divorce declaration in a local newspaper for 4 consecutive weeks to be able to proceed with the divorce filing.
Working with A Divorce Attorney
While some of the options are fairly easy to proceed with, chances are you’ll want to work with an attorney, regardless of how “simple” your divorce may seem. There are various forms that will need to be filed out and filed by both you and your spouse. Also, depending on your situation – if you have children, large amounts of assets or debts, or property to divide – divorce can get sticky. In some cases, especially if spouses are having a hard time coming to agreement, you might need a lawyer to defend your case in a court of law.
Source: Womansdivorce.com, About Women’s Divorce, 2014
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